TMU Democracy Forum hosts Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Gary Anandasangaree visited TMU to discuss the future of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
By Frances Smith
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Democracy Forum
hosted the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and previous Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, Gary Anandasangaree on Friday.
The forum focused on federal government initiatives and challenges in Indigenous reconciliation across Canada. Although he himself is not an Indigenous person, Anandasangaree has been the minister since 2021.
It was held as part of a yearround talk series hosted by the Dais, a public policy and leadership think tank at TMU. It was hosted by Toronto Star columnist and The Democracy Forum’s founder, Martin Regg Cohn.
The event started with a land acknowledgment presented by the Vice President of Equity and Community Inclusion at TMU, Tanya De Mello. Following De Mello’s opening words, Cohn began the forum by questioning if the presentation of land acknowledgments risks becoming “performative” or an “empty ritual,” an opinion shared in some Indigenous communities.
Anandasangaree responded by recognizing that land acknowledgments have become increasingly performative in various settings, emphasizing that “it’s not a tick mark exercise, it will require us to understand what the treaties mean.”
He concluded this comment by saying “the core of Indigeneity is a critical component of Canada and the history that is here,” adding “acknowledging that is a very good starting point, and certainly not the ending.”
He explained that not all Indigenous peoples are recognized under Section 35 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, making it difficult to establish their Indigenous identity.
Anandasangaree said due to systemic factors, including “residential schools, child welfare system, six-week school [and] modern-day provincial child welfare systems,” Indigenous peoples have been “disenfranchised” from engaging in their communities.
“This is a very difficult process,” he added, describing the government’s research and legal approach to ensure the preservation of Indigenous identity.
Anandasangaree addressed concerns of systemic issues that were also questioned by Cohn, including socioeconomic gaps, insufficient re-
sources to self-govern, inadequate access to resources, failures in the child welfare system and high suicide rates in Indigenous communities.
He highlighted the need to address systemic issues, explaining that “access to basic support...is lacking” and adding that foundational elements such as “employment, housing [and] the social determinants that will enable individuals to have agency over their life and control over their future… are missing.”
The minister outlined his goals to close these gaps while “planting the seeds on self-governance [and] self-determination.” He expressed that as long as these gaps exist, having a real conversation about reconciliation would be difficult.
Anandasangaree described modern treaties and Indigenous land sovereignty as a “different architecture” compared to historic approaches and foundational elements of reconciliation.
He highlighted progress with three modern negotiation Treaties initiated in British Columbia to improve relations between First Nations and the provincial government. He also announced more are expected to come in six to eight weeks.
He stressed the need for holistic mental health services in Indigenous communities to help combat the high rates of suicide.
Anandasangaree pointed to the success of a culturally grounded approach, stating, “We know that when there’s a better connection to language and culture and ways of life, we know that there’s change that happens in people.”
An example of that highlighted approach is the on-the-land program in the Northwest Territories (NWT), where young people outside of school engage in tradi-
tional practices such as hunting and spending time outdoors on Indigenous lands. The program is run by the NWT Recreation and Parks Association.
He highlighted building on the previous framework from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to promote further reconciliation, led by the late Senator Murray Sinclair, as principles for the ministry’s initiatives.
The event’s Q&A period began with the minister taking audiences questions. Anandasangaree noted the ministry’s push for provinces to ensure Canada’s education systems “reflect the experience of Indigenous peoples,” helping students understand Indigenous identities and history.
Anandasangaree explained initiatives like post-secondary law programs are incorporating Indigenous law into their courses. Medical schools are pursuing similar initiatives, such as the Indigenous health units offered at McMaster University, designed to engage students in reconciliation practices.
He emphasized the importance of language preservation by funding local language initiatives under Bill C-91 in communities rather than at centralized institutions such as universities. Bill C-91, also known as the Indigenous Languages Act, received Royal Assent in 2019 and aims to support the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening of Indigenous languages in Canada, according to Government of Canada website.
In a written statement to The Eyeopener addressing the barriers Indigenous students may face in post-secondary education—including financial challenges and cultural disconnection—Anan-
dasangaree highlighted the 2024 federal budget allocation of funds.
He explained in the written response that they are allocating “$242.7 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to increase access to post-secondary education for First Nations students through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program.”
He explained that this is accompanied by the Post-Secondary Education Strategies funded by the federal government in 2019—which has invested $487.5 million over 10 years and has $61.5 million of investments ongoing toward Inuit and Métis post-secondary education, his statement reads.
Additionally, Anandasangaree outlined federal measures to address systemic violence against Indigenous people, highlighting efforts to improve safety and emergency access, in his statement to The Eye.
He pointed to initiatives such as “funding 47 emergency shelters and transitional housing projects as well as creating hundreds of units within First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities across Canada to make sure people have a safe place to go.”
Anandasangaree also emphasized the importance of connectivity in remote areas, noting the government’s effort to provide “reliable internet to over 3,000 Indigenous households so that there is better access to emergency services.”
The Democracy Forum ended with the minister describing reconciliation as rooted in the ministry’s commitment toward a better world, which he states is a “far more enduring legacy for all of this.”
JERRY ZHANG/THE EYEOPENER
Fireworks allegedly set off at Pitman Hall, triggering alarm
Smoke filled the seventh floor of Pitman Hall, prompting students to evacuate as firefighters responded to the incident
By Jerry Zhang
Fireworks were allegedly set off on the seventh floor of Pitman Hall at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) on Nov. 20 night around 11 p.m., according to some of the building’s residents, prompting students to temporarily evacuate the residence building.
Toronto Fire Services confirmed they received a call at 11:16 p.m. and dispatched crews to 160 Mutual St.
“We did respond there,” said a Toronto Fire Services representative. The representative added that the fire department was there to reset the alarms and could not confirm whether fireworks had caused the alarm.
Julia Brooks, a second-year criminology student living in Pitman Hall, said she and her roommate were in their apartment on the seventh floor when they heard what sounded like fireworks go off in the hallway.
“I heard this loud banging noise out in the hallway,” Brooks said. “About 30 seconds later, the fire alarm starts blaring and we grabbed our coats and our IDs and everything…we just got out of there.”
After leaving their rooms,
she said there was smoke in the hallway and realized it was not a false alarm.
Madison Law Jones, a firstyear arts and contemporary studies student and Brooks’ roommate, described seeing thick smoke in the hallway after leaving her room.
“When we opened our apartment door…there was so much smoke, so we didn’t know if it was a fire,” she said.
Jones said residents on other floors told her that they could see and smell the smoke as well.
Both students said they waited in the Rogers Communication Centre after evacuating due to the rain.
When they received the notice they could return to their rooms, they saw ash-like residue on the floor and bench in the hallway of the seventh floor.
“We came back upstairs…everyone was kind of conversing in the hallway,” Brooks said. They believed someone set off the firework or firecracker due to the residue on the floor and bench.
The incident caused anxiety among residents, according to both students.
“It was pretty scary because it’s like loud banging…we didn’t know what the situation was go-
ing to turn into,” said Jones. She also said that because this happened on her floor and close to her apartment, it made her feel even more alarmed.
Brooks expressed she was relieved it didn’t turn into a fire. “I almost cried, to be honest, because it was scary,” she said.
The Eyeopener reached out to the university regarding the alleged fireworks and potential safety concerns but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Jones noted having no cameras in residence hallways would
make it difficult to identify the person responsible.
“I understand not having cameras in the apartments, but… in the hallways, I feel like that would be super helpful in a situation like this,” she said.
Brooks said the building’s resident advisor spoke to students af-
ter the incident and ensured they were safe after the incident.
The Eye reached out to the university regarding cameras in the hallways and if they would consider implementing them to address safety concerns, however they did not receive a response in time for publication.
Krispy Kreme location opens near TMU campus
By Daniel Opasinis
A new Krispy Kreme location opened at 105 Dundas St. E. on Nov. 26, offering Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students a new treat spot near classes.
Gen Z expected to spend more this Black Friday
By Lillie Coussée
Generation Z— individuals aged 12 to 27—are expected to spend the most amount of money this year during Black Friday deals, according to Statistica.
This new location comes during an expansion of Krispy Kreme’s presence across the Greater Toronto Area. The downtown location is on the corner of Dundas and Church Street and will become the chain’s 17th location in Canada.
To celebrate the location’s opening, the first customer in line is given the opportunity to turn on the iconic “HOT” light. The first 12 customers will receive a free dozen original glazed donuts for every month of the year, according to an email sent to The Eyeopener sent by Krispy Kreme promotions.
In addition, every customer on opening day will receive one free original glazed donut.
Luca Solomita, a first-year architectural science student at TMU is excited for the store’s opening.
“We already have some of those other American chains around like Shake Shack, but having the Krispy Kreme just adds to that sweet part of it,” he said.
Students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are excited about upcoming sales.
Nicholas Romanino, a first-year professional communication student said he is looking for “tons of deals.” He works in a mall and said he’s noticed a lot of discounts happening this year with some steeper than others.
“Clothes-wise, I’d say [the deals are better] but electronic-wise, I think they were better last year,” he said.
Caroline Martyn, a fourth-year nursing student said she’s waiting until exams are done to “get [her] shopping on.”
“Black Friday being so close to exams, I find it really difficult to [find] the time to shop,” she said.
Black Friday is historically an American holiday but became popular in Canada in 2007 when the American dollar was equal to the Canadian dollar for the first time in 31 years, according to Western Financial Group.
MADISON LAW JONES, SAMMY KOGAN/THE EYEOPENER
One more run: Bold athletes return for year 5
Kylie Ferguson and Kaillie Hall are embracing the final stretch of their OUA playing careers
By Jordan Vishal Bickramsingh
When Kylie Ferguson stepped onto the volleyball court towards the end of what was supposed to be her final year with the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold in 2023-24, everything started to feel real. The outside hitter had been playing volleyball for more than a decade, and soon, her time in the game would come to an end. Life had to keep going and Ferguson needed to keep moving forward.
But something told Ferguson she needed to come back for one more year. She thought to herself, “I just wasn’t quite ready to be done. There’s still more of an impact I can make on the team.”
Through trials and tribulations, senior students on TMU Bold varsity teams have persevered and shown their dedication to their sports. For most of them, the decision to stay another year beyond the end of their undergraduate degree boils down to unfinished business. Having spent most of their lives giving their all to a sport, they know they have to see it through to the very end of their five years of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) eligibility.
“I just didn’t feel like I’d been here long enough”
As a child, Ferguson was surrounded by sports but it wasn’t volleyball—it was hockey. Everyone in her family played hockey but the ice just wasn’t right for her. At the age of 10, Ferguson discovered her true passion: volleyball. After her parents put her in house league volleyball and she fell in love with the sport, it seemed to love her back. She was a natural.
Ferguson said when her parents put her in volleyball, she knew “this is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing.”
Eventually, this led to her becoming a star player on the TMU
Bold women’s volleyball team.
Becoming a Bold varsity athlete was not without its challenges.
One of the larger obstacles was the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted all OUA sports during the 2020-21 season. Ferguson had dedicated the last eight years to volleyball and would be losing an entire year of playing to the pause.
The hardships did not stop there.
When the 2021-22 season began, Ferguson could not wait to get back on the court. However, in November 2021, she suffered an ACL injury, which kept her out of commission for the rest of the season. After giving up a full year of volleyball, Ferguson now had to give up another, having played only three matches that season in total.
“Really, last year was only my third year of being healthy and able to play,” she said. “I just didn’t feel like I’d been here long enough.”
Because of her injury, Ferguson had to move back home from Toronto to Grafton, Ont. Being away from her teammates made it difficult to build relationships with them but she made the most of the cards she was dealt, taking time to reevaluate herself as a person and as a player. Forced to find ways to connect with teammates while recovering from her injuries, she said she gained valuable social skills that helped her develop as a leader.
“Going through my first year being [the pandemic] and then sustaining an injury in my second year and now kind of being in a leadership position, I think I’ve just learned a lot about mental toughness and what it takes to perform at your best and to push through really tough moments,” said Ferguson.
A year-and-a-half later, she was set to graduate and thus leave the team.
At the end of last season, the Bold women’s volleyball coaches expressed their desire for Ferguson to return. There would be a lot of rookie players coming in and they
wanted her help as a senior player to lead them. Being presented with the opportunity to return to the Bold for an extra year, making up for lost time, it was a no-brainer— Ferguson had to keep playing.
In her fifth year of study, Ferguson is pursuing a certificate in Mental Health and Addiction studies while she competes as an outside hitter for the Bold. Now a veteran on the team, Ferguson has stepped into the shoes of past players that inspired her like Alicia Lam, Katelyn Grasman and all of the players she once shared the court with.
“It’s a really special feeling when you’re in this position because for the first time people are looking to you for guidance and for support and for confidence,” said Ferguson.
“I’ve learned a lot about mental toughness and what it takes to perform at your best”
Going into the 2024-2025 season, Ferguson’s personal goal is to ensure she leaves her new teammates in a position to carry the Bold to new heights. After this season, Ferguson plans to keep the Bold in her life as she moves forward.
“I’m excited. I think I’m gonna stay in the city next year and support the team and go to games. I’m looking forward to being in the stands,” she said.
Ferguson is one in a collection of fifth-year athletes on Bold varsity teams this year. Kaillie Hall, a guard on the women’s basketball team, is in similar shoes.
For Hall, stepping back onto the court for one more year was a question of duty. Having played basketball her whole life, she knew if she could play for one more year, she was going to do it.
“I’ve given 18-plus years of my life to the sport,” said Hall. “I didn’t want to have any regrets in that space, especially with how much I just love being a part of this team.”
Hall grew up in Hamilton, Ont., a city with a thriving women’s basketball community. Inspired by her mother who also played basketball, Hall decided to try it out. From that moment, she knew she had found her calling. She played in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association in secondary school, joining the ranks of young players striving towards the university basketball scene.
Now a fifth-year student pursuing a business certificate at
the Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, Hall has a very tight schedule. While being a student and a regular starter on the basketball team, she is also establishing herself in the sports media industry as a social media specialist. A big concern for Hall when it came to returning for another year was balancing her commitments to the team with the desire to move forward with her career. She figured out that she didn’t have to choose between the two.
“It worked out logistically in terms of school, work, basketball and I really got to fill up all my buckets in terms of what matters most to me,” she said. “To grow professionally and still feel fulfilled in that space has been huge.”
Another factor in Hall’s return was the promise of playing for a team with extensive potential. Having won the U Sports national championship with the Bold in 2022 and making it deep into the OUA playoffs during the 202223 and the 2023-24 seasons, Hall knew that the Bold were capable of another gold title.
“I didn’t want to have any regrets...with how much I just love being a part of this team”
Reflecting on her time with the Bold, Hall believes that the biggest change she has seen in herself has been her confidence. She has been heavily influenced by her current and former teammates over the last four years.
“I was really fortunate to be around a lot of talented players and awesome people,” she said. “Just trying to take bits and pieces of the leadership of a Mikaela Dodig, the competition of a Jama Bin-Edward, the resilience of a Rachel Farwell and blend that into how you show up every single day has been something that I’ve really tried to do.”
Hall’s decision to stay one more year was influenced in part by the special relationship she shares with head coach Carly Clarke—who has been an great influence on Hall throughout her time with the Bold.
“She’s demonstrated what it means to be a strong woman leader,” said Hall. “What she does for our team has resonated with me and it’s something that I’ll carry with me and try to emulate.”
Hall said Clarke has helped her grow as a player and person, so returning to her squad was the right thing to do.
“She’s the best coach in Canada. It’s just a great opportunity to be in the gym with her every day,” Hall added.
“I’m just taking things day-by-day and really trying to enjoy what’s left of my time here”
Beyond winning, Hall knows she is in an important leadership position as a senior player and takes responsibility for the team’s success. She knows the significance of being connected on and off the basketball court, so it’s important to her that the next batch of Bold athletes know that too.
“It doesn’t just come with a blink of an eye, but just feeling like we’re so connected and being the most together we possibly can be will ultimately help me leave this year feeling fulfilled and like I did everything I could,” she said.
Hall hasn’t thought too hard about precisely what she wants to do once the season is over. Instead, she is focused on having a good year of basketball.
“I’m not sure exactly what’s next for me. If basketball is in the cards, if it’s work, if it’s content creation,” she said. “I’m just taking things day-by-day and really trying to enjoy what’s left of my time here at TMU and make the most of the people I’m around.”
MATTHEW LIN/THE EYEOPENER
EMERSON WILLIAMS/THE EYEOPENER
Caribana to campus: TMU’s new course
FSN 610 is the first course of its kind in Canada, teaching students the origins of Carnival
By Moyo Lawuyi
Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) new fashion course is giving students the chance to make their own Caribana Carnival costumes while exploring the history and culture involved in the popular Caribbean festival.
FSN 610: Carnival Arts—also offered in TMU’s Black Studies minor—was developed by Candice Dixon, an instructor at the university’s School of Fashion. The course first launched for the Winter 2023 semester and gained attention in Canadian media for its trailblazing achievement for being the first course in the country of its kind in subject matter.
“I think almost all of the students that I’ve worked with have told me in one way or another that this is their favourite course that they’ve ever taken,” said Dixon. “It warms my heart to hear that.”
Caribbean Carnival is an annual festival celebrated across the Caribbean Islands and other countries worldwide. The festival’s roots are as diverse as its participants due to various origin stories blending African, Indigenous and European influences.
In Toronto, the festival is commonly referred to as Caribana, with the first Grand Parade—the main event of the festival— taking place in 1967. Now one of the largest festivals in North America, Caribana is expected to bring over a million tourists into the city every summer.
Whether at home or abroad, key elements of the festival involve crowning a king and queen, lively dancing to Caribbean music and playing Mas—short for masquerade.
Mas is a cornerstone of Carnival, with participants adorning themselves in vibrant costumes, masks and elaborate disguises as they dance along the parade route. This tradition traces back to the end of slavery in Trinidad and Tobago as newly emancipated peoples took to the streets with the abandoned clothes of their former enslavers and used them as costumes. The emancipated people mimicked and mocked the behaviour of their former enslavers at the pre-Lenten masquerade balls they were never allowed to attend.
Dixon has always been intrigued by Carnival costumes and is a co-owner of a production company called SugaCayne where she creates Carnival costumes of her own.
Through her company, she realized that although many young people loved to attend Carnival, few were involved in the costumes’ actual design and production process. This inspired her to develop a university course to bridge that gap and spark student interest in the festival’s creative aspects.
“There are enough people in this world that we can both know the same things and supply it to the people who love what we do,” said Dixon. “This is not a competition thing, this is a sharing thing.”
In 2017, her company became a member of TMU’s Design Fabrication Zone and part of its experimental track a few years later where students worked on projects creating carni-
val costumes. Caron Phinney—an assistant professor at the School of Fashion—recognized the workshop’s potential. With advocacy from Dixon, Phinney and the chair of the department, Joseph Medaglia, the course was brought to life in 2023.
Dixon said teaching the course has been “great” as she intentionally created it to be “more than just creating a pretty costume.”
She teaches students the history of Carnival, how to tell stories with their designs and how to expand their horizons by working with digital technology such as 3D printing and laser cutting.
“I want to make sure [students] understand to the core what it is that we’re actually doing and then what your costume actually represents when you create something like that,” she said.
Dixon also wants to ensure that original art forms live on. She encourages wire-bending, a classic technique that creates the structural frame of the costumes. She emphasized the importance of including vital elements such as a headpiece, neckpiece and bodywear—the traditional components of a Carnival costume that judges look for on fashion runways during competitions at the festival.
“Having a course like this would be one way of keeping the original meaning of carnival…alive”
“I recognize that if this was something that had been available to me, I would have appreciated it and I would have loved to have been able to learn,” she said.
Students get to practice showcasing their work with a fashion show at the end of the semester. Dixon said this is to ensure the costumes they made during the term are
practical and comfortable for a human body and can actually be worn.
Zachat Ochalefu, a third-year fashion student, had the opportunity to model in the first Carnival Arts course fashion show in 2023. She said her experience modelling made her interested in how Carnival costumes were made and ultimately, the course. She recalled being especially captivated by the circular panels, bright colours and angel wings she wore while thinking to herself that if fellow students could create such beautiful designs, she could too.
“I was definitely intrigued by just looking at other people’s costumes and like noticing the different structures that were put in place to make the entire garment as a whole,” she said.
For students like Ochalefu who are interested in the course, Dixon said they should enter the classroom with an open mind and be inspired to do something different.
“I want them to go away with an experience unlike any they’ve ever had, creating something that you probably never thought you could have created,” Dixon said. “I think almost every student I worked with was just like ‘Wow, I can’t believe I did that.’”
FSN 610 is available for undergraduate students to take during the Winter 2025 semester and although Dixon said only fashion students can take the course currently, she hopes it will later expand so that everyone can learn about the rich culture of Carnival.
“It’s not required to be a fashion designer in order to be able to make a Carnival costume,” she said. “I think there’s so many creatives out there and especially, I know for sure that there are students of Caribbean descent that want to be able to take the course.”
Maia Purcell, a third-year professional communication student from Grenada, is one of these students.
Purcell said she would be interested in learning about the intricacies within the construction of a Carnival costume, especially because she played Mas and wore the outfit for the first time in her home country this past summer.
“I think almost every student I worked with was just like ‘Wow, I can’t believe I did that’”
Purcell said that before coming to TMU in 2022, she had lived in Grenada her whole life. Toronto—with its vibrant Caribbean diaspora—provides her with a sense of community that she was worried she might not find being so far from home.
“There seems to be a large and significant Caribbean community in Toronto, the food, the music, it’s still here, it’s still very vibrant,” she said
Purcell said she values TMU’s Caribbeanfocused course, as to her, it can reconnect second- and third-generation immigrants to their culture.
Although she understands that technical fashion elements might be why the course is limited to only fashion students, she said Caribbean students and students from other backgrounds should be able to take Carnival Arts.
“I feel [the meaning of Carnival] is slightly getting lost, it’s not as meaningful as it used to be in the days my parents or my grandparents would have [participated],” said Purcell. “I think having a course like this would be one way of keeping the original meaning of carnival…alive.”
NAGEEN RIAZ/THE EYEOPENER
Use planners and apps to hold yourself accountable
I think everyone can attest to how important deadlines can become “lost in the sauce” due to how abundant they might be. That’s when we, as students, can look for a method of organization that’s been with humans since the beginning of time—planning it out.
In my experience, having one or even multiple dedicated planning tools to track your upcoming tasks and their progress can boost productivity and relieve stress during exam season. On top of all of these benefits, so many of them are free!
In a world full of constantly emerging organization applications, students are turning towards digital methods to manage their time. Google Calendar has skyrocketed as a top planner and TMU will even automatically add your weekly class schedule into the application. Alternatively, you can opt for your phone’s calendar, any scheduling apps or even your notes app—having your weekly schedule sit next to the drafts of late-night ruminations.
Collaborate with the people around you
I find the best ways to learn come from the people around you. That’s why forming staying on top of your workload. Don’t be afraid to lean on people when you need
In my experience, most professors want their students to succeed. As long as you’ve as they can. Reaching out and asking questions—like “what key topics should I focus way to gain some insight into the main points of an upcoming exam.
Normally on the last day of classes, professors will outline which chapters and crucial class to gain some insight. If you can’t make it, ask a friend to take notes Speaking of friends, it’s super-valuable to lean on classmates and friends during split up the workload.
In my second year, I took a political philosophy course that was definition-heavy we each chose a topic to make a mini presentation on. A couple of days before another our topic. This was a great way to be reminded of the key theories and made
My personal favourite is Notion, a digital productivity and note-taking platform. I like to implement all my assignment due dates and final exam dates once they’re announced into an all-in-one hub for everything education-related.
There are also countless apps that help to curate a calming work environment and time your study sessions in exchange for a reward (like planting digital trees or feeding a virtual pet).
If digital isn’t your style, it would be amiss to ignore the traditional method of writing on a physical calendar or notebook with a trusty pen or pencil.
Even though the impending dread of so many assignments and dates can be overwhelming, taking it one day at a time and utilizing time management platforms can alleviate that, even if only slightly. John Vo – Production Editor
Create unique study methods
Studying doesn’t have to mean hours of staring blankly at your notes or rereading the same contents over and over again. Sometimes, switching up your study methods and finding unique ways to engage with the material can make all the difference.
One method I swear by is setting small achievable goals and rewarding yourself after reaching each one. Whether you’re reviewing one chapter or mastering five key terms, reward yourself for hitting each milestone. This small prize can be as simple as a snack break, an episode of your favorite show or scrolling on TikTok (but set a timer so doom-scrolling doesn’t ensue).
Another trick is using visuals to simplify complex concepts. Create colourful mind maps, flowcharts or diagrams to connect ideas or draw out processes to help visualize how they work.
If you’re more of an auditory learner, try recording yourself summarizing the material and listen back while commuting or walking to class. Hearing the information in your own voice can reinforce it in a surprisingly effective way. Personally, my favorite way to study is with others—nothing beats having friends quiz me to test my recall. There’s something about the pressure of answering questions on the spot that really helps the material stick. Plus, it’s a great way to figure out what I know and what I need to focus on.
The key to effective studying is finding what works for you and keeping things interesting. Studying doesn’t have to feel like a chore—sometimes it’s just about adding a personal twist that keeps you motivated and engaged. Nalyn Tindall – Features Editor
Take advantage of TMU’s accommodation services
With only one semester left until I graduate, I never had the chance to use TMU’s accommodation services…simply because I didn’t know they existed.
Don’t get me wrong, there have been several times during my degree when these resources could have helped me out if I knew how to use them. During my third year in the journalism program, I had three final summatives due on the same day—one of them being at 5 p.m. and the other two at 11:59 p.m. The assignments spanned from indepth essays to creating long-form video content and more. While I was able to hand two in on time, the third was submitted past midnight and the night ended with me profusely apologizing to my professor.
But it didn’t have to be that way and it doesn’t have to be that way for you either.
TMU has various tools to support students with assignment and exam deadlines. The first is Academic Accommodation Support (AAS), which according to the university’s website, “helps to reduce barriers and promote accessibility.”
Students with disabilities have to register with AAS at the start of each semester using their school email and are required to submit disability documentation that is completed by “a healthcare practitioner who is qualified to make the diagnosis.”
AAS can provide students with accommodations such as extensions, peer-note taking, extra time on tests and other forms of academic support.
Another valuable resource open to any student is Academic Consideration Requests (ACR).
If facing extenuating circumstances, students can submit a request for alternate arrangements on assignments, exams and more. Every student can use this accommodation once per semester without needing to attach any documentation. More information can be found on TMU’s website.
So, don’t make the same mistakes I did. Use the services and resources that, as a student, you have access to! Khushy Vashisht – Communities Editor
The Eyeopener’s Guide to Exam
Your guide to getting out making the same
By The Eyeopener Masthead
As the end of the semester approaches, students across campus exam season. Late nights spent in the library, carefully highlighted-turned-sloppy come staples of university life. The pressure to perform well can ability to prepare.
However, exam season isn’t just about the tests themselves—it’s stay motivated. Every student approaches this time differently, retain what they’ve learned throughout the term.
Whether it’s your first university exam at Toronto Metropolitan guide is packed with practical advice and personal insights to help ods to tips on managing stress and staying motivated, The Eyeopener
forming good relationships with your professors and classmates is key to need help.
you’ve shown up to class and put work in, they’ll try to help out as much focus on and which readings should I take a closer look at?”—is a good and lectures will be on the final, as well as its format. Try to attend this for you! during this time. Study groups are a great way to absorb information and
Practice wellness
Exam season can be a really difficult time, not just academically but physically, mentally and emotionally. The sheer amount of a semester’s work and assignments layered with exams and the pressure to perform well can really weigh on a person’s wellbeing.
I found myself struggling with this when I had to write my first-ever university exam. The buildup of pressure and the fear of failure—along with the lack of sleep—led me to freeze the moment the exam hit my desk.
During the hours following that exam, I reflected on what had happened and why I wasn’t able to perform to the best of my abilities. This was probably the most defeating moment of my university career so far. I wasn’t alone though, many other people feel the same stress and pressure—and you’re not alone either.
It’s also important to note that your grades do not define you. We all want to do well in school, and although one or two bad grades will feel terrible in the moment, you’ll move past it and grow from the experience.
nition-heavy and had complicated theories. I made friends in the class and the exam, we got together to present and teach one made studying more enjoyable.
Eyeopener’s Exam Season
getting through
finals withsame mistakes we did
Visuals by Nageen
Riaz
are gearing up for one of the school year’s biggest challenges— highlighted-turned-sloppy notes and a steady supply of caffeine becan feel overwhelming as final grades often hinge on students’ themselves—it’s about navigating stress, managing time and finding ways to relying on a variety of strategies to stay on top of deadlines and Metropolitan University (TMU) or you’re a seasoned professional, this help you navigate every challenge ahead. From unique study methEyeopener is here to help you tackle exam season with confidence.
Sacrificing your mental health for an exam can sometimes lead to a worse performance and having a preventative approach through the studying process is one of the best ways to prevent burnout.
Take a break every once in a while, grab ice cream or a warm comforting meal with your friends, see your family and then come back to your notes. This is definitely easier said than done— sometimes I still have trouble practicing wellness myself—but making that extra effort to take care of yourself
Having a support system is vital. Even if it’s just one trusted individual, having someone to talk to can really improve your experience. The university also offers a few different programs under their Student Wellbeing page, including ThriveTMU and counseling services.
How to make it through the big day
If you’re a procrastinator and an over-thinker like me, I get it. Studying will always be one of the hardest tasks for me as a student. I can’t sit down for more than two hours on my laptop to study a topic that I realized I lost interest in after the second week of the semester.
Still, those grades are important, so whether you study the night before or even prepare for the exam weeks in advance (could never be me), here are two key steps to follow on the day of the exam to ace it—again, could never be me.
Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep the night before the big day—being hypervigilant and running on the Monster energy drinks you consumed at 3 a.m. is not the best idea. Being calm and confident going into an exam will force you to trust yourself. You did your best to prepare for the exam, so listen to your gut.
I am the type of person who studies better under pressure—and I know I’m not the only one—so testing myself has been a good tool. This semester I had a psychology class that became increasingly hard over the course of the term since I didn’t have a lot of time to study. My friend in the class, who’s a psychology major, became my studying mechanism for both of the tests we had. We would quiz ourselves with random questions from the lecture slides, and if we couldn’t answer, we would break down the concept together.
your exams.
In the end, we both got very similar results, above the class average as well. Hopefully, these tips will work for you too and can help you ace Daniel Carrero – Sports Editor
Give yourself a post-exam treat
Trust me, I understand it is hard to celebrate our wins. Nothing ever seems perfect and it can feel like there’s always more to do. But when it comes to exams, there doesn’t have to be.
If you’re wrapping up the last assignment for that class, it means you’ll be free when you’re done writing—even if you have another exam.
It’s important to give yourself the peace of mind that you freakin’ did it. You pushed through all the stress of the last few weeks of the semester and put your best foot forward during the exam. Now, you deserve to relish in that and take some time for yourself.
I remember at the end of the fall semester of my second year, I only had one exam. It was a cold, miserable commute and I spent hours sitting alone at the Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre—preparing for a long three-hour exam in a Kerr Hall East classroom. When it was done, I went outside to the Kerr Hall Quad and everything felt different. I was free, and suddenly the snow was something to catch, not grumble about. I texted my girlfriend and my parents, headed to Union Station, picked up a treat from Tim Hortons and started working on finding Christmas gifts for my family. It was time to lock in… and enjoy the freedom of the holiday break.
For me, treating myself means turning my brain off and trading reading through notes for watching a hockey game, calling my brother or having something nice or fun to eat. And especially if you’re a commuter, yes, you deserve that cheat meal at the Eaton Centre food court—or simply a nap. It doesn’t matter what the activity is, as long as it doesn’t involve thinking about the exam you just completed.
Even if you have another exam on the horizon, you deserve to take a moment to reward yourself, if only in the smallest or simplest of ways. It’s about allowing yourself a positive mindset for an hour, an evening, a day—whatever you need to rest and reset your mind. Mitchell Fox – Sports Editor
We
BEYOND THE FRAME
The Eyeopener looks back on some of the best images from this semester
These athletes are professionals in their sports. We brought them into the studio and kind of let them do their thing — for us, dynamic posing was key. — Nageen Riaz & Saif-Ullah Khan
It took over a thousand photos and hundreds of layers to catch each player in the correct position for the final image. — Sammy Kogan
used plastic bags and tape to protect the camera and lights from the water. The photographer was not so lucky. — Sammy Kogan
SAMMY KOGAN
SAMMY KOGAN
SAMMY KOGAN
SAMMY KOGAN
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: NAGEEN RIAZ & SAIF-ULLAH KHAN
WANYA-TAMBWE
When I shoot, I like to follow the ball completely through my camera’s viewfinder. I didn’t even realize the emotion on the player’s face until after I got the shot. — Pierre-Philipe Wanya-Tambwe
I was walking back to the media tent when I saw we had a breakaway coming, so I whipped around really quickly and got my finger on the shutter button. — Maggie Stemp-Turner
I figured if I wanted to capture the scale of the protest, I’d approach it from a different angle. I was able to get into The Tenor building on Dundas Street — the Jack Astor’s staff let me use their patio. — Jerry Zhang
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: SAMMY KOGAN
SAMMY KOGAN
SAMMY KOGAN
SAMMY KOGAN
MAGGIE STEMP-TURNER
DANIEL CARRERO
JERRY ZHANG
PIERRE-PHILIPE
Drip-by-drip: How hidden fees are taking your money
Drip pricing leaves consumers unaware of added fees jacking up costs of goods
By Dylan Marks
With large corporations like Cineplex and TicketNetwork recently under fire for having hidden fees within consumer purchases, experts say drip pricing is leaving some customers feeling taken advantage of as more cases come to light.
The phenomenon of drip pricing is a strategy where only a portion of an item’s total cost is initially shown to the consumer.
Nicholas Li, an assistant professor of economics at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), said “drip pricing occurs when you are initially advertised one price, then by the time you complete the transaction there are a variety of other fees that get added in making the final price higher.”
Li also said that corporations tend to use drip pricing to hide price increases.
“Similar to shrinkflation, there’s the idea that consumers will be less sensitive to these kinds of price increases,” said Li. “Obviously customers don’t like hidden fees, but it’s clear they do like them more than ‘In-your-face’ price increases.”
Fourth-year arts and contemporary studies student Alexa Valente said she has caught on to the process of drip pricing and has noticed how it affects her purchasing habits. “From what I understand…when there’s a price, and then when you go to checkout, there’s all these additional add-ons to that price,” she said.
“If I’m buying something like a ticket to something I’m super eager to go to, then I don’t think that I would really let it bother me,” said Valente.
Michael Boutros, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Toronto, talked about how drip pricing tends to be a factor that persuades a customer to
not complete their purchase.
“If you tell the consumer it’s only $10 and then down the road you add a $2 fee, you’re relying a little bit on the psychology of the mind to get them in at one price,” said Boutros.
“Obviously customers don’t like hidden fees”
He added that once a consumer has been through the process of selecting a product, they may already imagine themselves using that product which could make it harder for them to say no, even with the extra fees.
This is a phenomenon known as sunken cost fallacy. According to a report from the National Library of Medicine, “sunken cost effect is the tendency to persist in an endeavor once an investment of effort, time or money has been made.”
Li also stated that sunken cost fallacy occurs when nothing added to a fixed price can influence a consumer’s decision to complete a purchase. “Once consumers have invested time in the purchasing decision they are less likely to back out when they see the final price. This is businesses exploiting basic human psychology,” said Li.
“If it’s something that’s already going to be $100, what’s an extra dollar or two”
Fourth-year fashion student Gabrielle Rogozynski had similar experiences with sunken cost fallacy.
“If it’s something that’s already going to be $100, what’s an extra dollar or two, especially if I already went through the entire process of putting my address in, putting my card in, etc,” she said.
“You’re not going to walk away from one of the movies that you’re going to see with your
friends because they charge you an extra dollar,” Boutros said. He added that, for example, if 1,000 people watch movies that night, an extra dollar per person is an additional $1,000 for Cineplex to earn in hidden fees.
Drip pricing is against the law in Canada and is being constantly investigated by the Competition Bureau of Canada.
“This is businesses exploiting basic human psychology”
Recently, the Bureau has taken measures against companies that were alleged to be taking unfair advantage of consumers through the use of drip pricing. These companies include SiriusXM Canada, Discount Car & Truck Rentals Ltd., TicketNetwork and most recently, Cineplex.
According to a statement from the Competition Bureau of Canada sent to The Eyeopener, “The Bureau has taken action against drip pricing for many years under the Deceptive Marketing Practices provisions of the Competition Act, notably in the online sporting and entertainment ticketing, car rental and satellite radio subscriptions industries.”
According to the Competition Bureau of Canada, drip pricing is against the law unless the additional fixed charges or fees are imposed by the government, such as sales tax.
The Bureau also stated that, legally, reparations vary from caseby-case and that “the consequences associated with engaging in deceptive marketing practices depend on which provisions of the Competition Act the conduct violates.”
Justine Simoneau, a law associate at Gowling Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co’s Montréal office, said she can “foresee how the nature of drip pricing is the consumer seeing only the added fees when they get to the end of the purchasing process, which puts them in a difficult situation where companies make profit from that.”
Rogozynski said, “I was trying to get Taylor Swift tickets recently and I was looking on websites where there was no hidden fees.” She would prefer purchasing tickets from a company that’s more honest and transparent as it makes her feel more valued as a consumer.
“I would say it’s frustrating, because it almost seems like [companies] are trying to get away with charging more. ” Rogozynski said.
ANTHONY LIPPA-HARDY/THE EYEOPENER
ANTHONY LIPPA-HARDY/THE EYEOPENER
Disclaimer: The following “news” bites are merely parodies of The Eyeopener’s Eyeflashes. Nothing below is factual or to be believed. If you’re coming to the fun & satire section for news, I hate to break it to you but you’re on the wrong page, buddy.
TMU building to be constructed with gingerbread cookies
By Sarah Grishpul
Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Smart Campus Integration and Testing Hub (SCITHub) will now be built entirely from gingerbread cookies.
The building’s construction has been delayed significantly after the school lost all funds dedicated to the project in an online cryptocurrency scam.
“My bad, y’all,” said TMU President Mohamed Lachemi.
TMU has now pivoted from marketing the site as the “world’s first digitally-enabled building,” as previously reported by The Eyeopener, to the “world’s first building made entirely from cookie.”
The university hired a new construction company to add some “speed and efficiency” to their development project. Gingy & Son promise they use “biodegradable products” and that all materials will be baked at an internal temperature of 190 degrees C.
Frankie the Falcon receives a disciplinary charge for pooping on school property
By Adriana Fallico
Frankie the Falcon found himself in a smelly situation yet again after he received a disciplinary charge for allegedly pooping on school property.
Details around the incident remain muddy, but according to pigeons in the area Frankie was seen “in a squatting position near the Daphne Cockwell Centre (DCC) after eating a street-vendor burrito.”
When security showed up, Frankie allegedly tried to blame the pigeons for the mess. Witnesses on the scene said Frankie was dragged away after getting repeatedly pecked in the ankles—and stepping in his own shit.
Frankie has since been banned from entering the DCC for the rest of the academic year, a ban that may be revoked if he learns to clean his shit up.
‘I choked on my Crumbl Cookie at The Well shopping complex’
By Caleb Jackson
The Well, a shopping complex on Front Street West, recently opened its doors to the famous cookie company, Crumbl Cookie.
The Eyeopener sent a reporter over to The Well for the store’s grand opening and managed to speak to one of the customers trying their very first cookie from the location.
“I choked on my Crumbl Cookie. Too crumbly. Too many crumbs,” said the patron, who wishes to remain anonymous. “It really lives up to the name.”
They went on to describe the cookie as “that of the sands of the Sahara,” and that it was definitely not worth its hefty price tag of $6 per cookie.
Crumbl Cookie denied responsibility for the brief asphyxiation, stating “he’s the one that went for the oatmeal raisin.”
New mural coming to campus
By Ella Miller
A new mural has been commissioned for the side of the South Bond Building by the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Beautification Committee.
The South Bond Building currently hosts the School of Urban & Regional Planning.
The mural would depict scenes from past buildings on Yonge Street that were “revamped” to make way for the expansion of TMU’s campus and more high-rise condos.
These buildings include the iconic Sam the Record Man flagship store which was humanely re-homed to make way for the Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre.
The mural is intended to inspire a future generation of urban planners with a “beauteous glorification of past feats of astounding gentrification” according to the Beautification Committee.
Air Canada pop-up coffee shop opens near campus
By Hailey Ford
Air Canada’s promotional coffee shop pop-up is now open only 15 minutes away from Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) campus.
The pop-up, completely irrelevant to students beyond some degree of proximity, will offer a one per cent discount to university students who purchase a drink on weekend mornings.
Orson Shill, a former Air Canada frequent flyer and fourth-year business management student, said he loves the idea and will be sure to check it out if he remembers to.
“I don’t really do coffee,” Shill said. “It’s
more about being part of an opportunity for people to feel emotionally connected to a corporation.”
The shop will be open until Dec. 17.
University hosts ‘How to Plan a Conference: Conference’ in the conference room
By Adriana Fallico
Questions surrounded Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) recent event that was open to all students and faculty.
The university hosted a panel titled “How to Plan a Conference: Conference,” which was centred around “the importance of creating the most rambunctious, exciting and jaw-dropping conference ever.”
Some of the main talking points included “the need for a dazzling red carpet, the importance of free merchandise like pens or tote bags and making sure that all water bottles handed out are not room temperature.”
TMU is expected to hold the same conference every two weeks, with the location changing each time.
“Second rule of conference hosting, schedule ‘em where they least expect it,” said organizer Connie Frence.
The base of the confusion stems from why this event needed to be held at all, something even TMU President Mohamed Lachemi is lost on.
“People wanted me to say a couple things, but honestly, I just showed up for the snacks,” said Lachemi.
The Zodiac Shitter hits TMU bathrooms
By Vihaan Bhatnagar
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Custodial Services is in disarray as the school’s bathrooms get hit by the mysterious Zodiac Shitter.
According to campus security, the Zodiac Shitter has been hitting universities across Toronto—leaving bathrooms clogged and overwhelmed.
TMU’s security services administrator Bruce Wendell said, “We will find him. Nobody gets away with this. Justice will prevail.”
The Zodiac Shitter’s attacks started at George Brown College, leading many to speculate that the culprit is a student at the school. Skeptics say that George Brown was only the first target because its name lends itself to the joke.
York University was the next target of the Zodiac Shitter. This makes TMU the third university in this string of attacks.
TMU’s custodial services administrator George Klein said, “Yeah someone’s been shitting in the bathrooms more than usual. I guess it’s a problem.”
Lachemi is ‘holding space’ for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’
By Sarah Grishpul
Following a private screening of the musical film Wicked this weekend, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) President Mohamed Lachemi could not stop singing in the office come Monday.
In an interview with The Eyeopener, Lachemi said he is “holding space” for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity.’
“I just really liked the movie,” he said while jerking his neck side-to-side and whispering “toss toss” under his breath. “I don’t care what the haters have to say, Ariana Grande was perfect for the role.”
Lachemi’s secretary Bam Peesley told The Eye that she “couldn’t take the tonedeaf singing anymore” and that plans for an intervention were in place.
Little building in Little Canada dozed to build little condo tower
By Edward Lander
A group of renters inside Little Canada, the miniature tourist attraction at YongeDundas Square, are frustrated by a condo set to replace their homes.
According to the renters, they were forcefully evicted by their landlord by way of vacuum cleaner and tweezers in the “wee hours of the night.”
“It was terrifying,” said Paul. E. Pocket, one of the affected residents.
“One minute I was relaxing, listening to Blink 182’s ‘All The Small Things,’ next thing I was being sucked out the window.”
Pocket said his personal belongings were damaged during the abrupt and disorderly eviction.
“I lost a bottle cap, a thumbtack and my copy of Little Women.”
Pocket said he’ll be taking his landlord to small claims court over the matter.
This is only the most recent redevelopment of a string of projects across the miniature city. Just last year, Little Honest Ed’s was razed to build Little Mirvish Village.
Colour in Frankie Giveaway Colour in Frankie Giveaway
By Vanessa Kauk
Grab your crayons, markers or other colouring utensil of choice and put your artistic skills to the test for a chance to win one of two prize bundles to the Imagine Cinemas on Carlton. Each bundle includes two movie ticket vouchers and two $25 gift cards.
Colour in the outlined image to the right. Once it's completely coloured in, scan the QR code below and submit a photo of it and your contact information.
Submissions will close next semester on Jan. 9. The winners' drawings will be posted on our Instagram storyand the winners will be contacted via email shortly after.
Submit here!
Source: sudokutodo.com
How to play
Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Each column and row must contain every number from one to nine without repetition. Each box must also have numbers one to nine with no repetition.
Sudoku requires a keen eye and the process of elimination to solve it. Want to check your progress?
Flip the paper upside down and reference the answer key to the right.
This word search is just the activity to get your mind off the stress from the end of the semester. Words to find:
